by Rose
Confucianism has always been one of the most important origins of the moral history of Chinese culture. The core values of Confucianism have consistently been upheld as mainstream thought. Confucius, who greatly promoted Confucian thought, not only opened the door to widespread education with the concept of "learning," but also established his own status in the realms of thought and education. His exploration of "benevolence" and his explanations of "heaven" and "fate" expanded Confucianism beyond just human ethics and social politics, adding a religious dimension to the doctrine. As a result, Confucianism has been revered and worshiped by later generations, becoming an indispensable part of local beliefs in contemporary Taiwan.
A Brief Summary of the Learning and Teaching of the "Great Sage and Teacher" Confucius
Confucius, whose given name was Kong Qiu and courtesy name Zhongni, is said to have descended from the royal family of the Shang dynasty, which had migrated to the State of Lu. Despite facing poverty after his father's early death, Confucius understood the importance of "learning" from a young age. At fifteen, he dedicated himself to studying. He was intelligent, eager to learn, and unashamed to ask questions. As he famously said, "When three people walk together, there is always something I can learn from them." He believed in learning from anyone with knowledge and talent, regardless of their status or background, embodying the principle of "having no constant teacher."
Confucius started a private school, accepting students from all over, as long as they could afford the modest tuition fee. His inclusive approach, known as "teaching without discrimination," broke the tradition of knowledge being confined to government officials. This allowed ordinary people, even those of low status, to access education, challenging the rigid class system and proving his immense contribution to society as the "Great Sage and Teacher."
His attitude was deeply rooted in the Confucian core value of "benevolence" (ren). The "Analects," a collection of his teachings, mentions "benevolence" over a hundred times, yet Confucius never defined it explicitly. When his disciple Zigong asked about benevolence, Confucius responded, "A benevolent person helps others achieve what they wish to achieve." To Zhonggong, he advised, "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself." When asked by Sima Niu, he replied, "A benevolent person is cautious in speech." These varying answers highlight Confucius's adaptive teaching style, addressing each student's context and needs, while emphasizing moral qualities like kindness, propriety, trustworthiness, filial piety, loyalty, tolerance, and respect. From this discussion, we can see how Confucius practiced "teaching according to ability" and aimed to cultivate his students' moral character and temperament. He hoped they would develop broad-mindedness and empathy, using their knowledge to contribute positively to society.
The Origin of the Confucius Worship Ceremony
To commemorate Confucius's contributions to Chinese cultural development, a temple was erected in his honor the year after his death. This temple preserved his personal belongings, such as his clothes, hat, zither, chariot, and books, marking the first Confucian temple in history and serving as the precursor to today's Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong. The first emperor to offer a grand sacrificial ceremony to Confucius, involving a full bull, sheep, and pig, was Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. From then on, any noble or official visiting the State of Lu would pay respects to Confucius before commencing their duties.
According to the "Book of Rites" (Liji), specifically the chapter "Wen Wang’s Heir," it is recorded: "Whenever there is a school, the officers of spring will offer sacrifices to the former teachers, and in autumn and winter as well; whenever a school is established, sacrifices must be made to the former sages and teachers." The term "sacrifices" (釋奠) refers to ceremonies honoring former teachers, a tradition from the Zhou Dynasty where students expressed their remembrance and respect for their teachers. Initially, these ceremonies did not refer to any specific teacher. However, by the Sui and Tang dynasties, this term gradually came to be associated with Confucius, transforming the sacrifice ceremony into a specific ritual dedicated to him.
Sacrificial Ceremony to Confucius
The specifications of the sacrificial ceremony to Confucius, known as "Shidian," have varied throughout different dynasties, becoming increasingly grand and complex as Confucius's titles grew more prestigious. Despite these changes, the essential elements of paying respects, performing rituals, and fulfilling ceremonial duties remained constant, representing the singular path to achieving "benevolence" (ren).
Initially, Emperor Gaozu of Han offered a grand sacrifice to Confucius at the Confucius Temple in Qufu. In the first year of Emperor Ping of Han's reign, Confucius was posthumously honored with the title "Duke of Extolled Achievement." Many years later, Emperor Ming of Han initiated the practice of sacrificing to Confucius and his seventy-two disciples in the Imperial Academy and local schools, establishing a tradition of honoring Confucius in educational institutions nationwide. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the regulations for sacrificing to Confucius began to follow the "royal system." The orientation of Confucian temples shifted from "facing east while seated west" to "facing north while seated south," akin to imperial positions. The music and dance adopted the court's "six-row dance" format. In the Tang and Song dynasties, Confucius was elevated in status, being referred to as the "Former Sage" (先聖), "Duke of Promoting the Way" (隆道公), and "King of Propagated Culture" (文宣王). The grand sacrificial ceremony presided over by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang even employed the "eight-row dance," matching the ceremonial standards for the emperor. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Confucius was enshrined as the "Great Sage and First Teacher," recognized as the paramount teacher of all time.
As the scale of the Shidian ceremony expanded, the rituals, sacrificial vessels, hymns, and dances began to vary by region. In Taiwan, the northern, central, and southern regions each have distinct practices: the north follows the "Ming Dynasty music and dance" tradition, the central region uses "Ming Dynasty music with Qing Dynasty dance," and the south employs "Qing Dynasty music and dance." However, the date for the ceremony is universally observed on September 28th, designated as Confucius's birthday and also Teacher's Day by former President Chiang Ching-kuo. Regardless of the specific rituals and regulations, the sacrificial ceremony underscores the Confucian emphasis on ritual and music education. It serves as a reminder to the nation of the Confucian principle of "governing the country with propriety."
The Timeless Sage
Mencius, another significant Confucian scholar in history, once remarked, "Confucius is a sage for all ages." This statement implies that Confucius's ideas are applicable across all eras. Confucius demonstrated an unwavering commitment to learning and self-improvement, and he tirelessly taught others the principles of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith." His personal character, scholarly contributions, impact on contemporary thought, and influence on future societies are indisputable. Confucius, a great man who did not rely on his family background, dedicated his life to learning and education. He is deserving of our utmost respect. The widespread access to education that people enjoy today is built upon the foundation laid by this sage. We should constantly be grateful for his dedication and efforts. Reflecting on the values and life goals he proposed can provide us with inspiration and guidance, motivating us to strive to be better and stronger individuals.
Reference:
